News Releases

FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION

July 10, 2007

ATTENTION WIRE SERVICES, DAYBOOK EDITORS:

HEARING ON HYBRID COMMUNICATIONS – WEDNESDAY, JULY 11TH

The Federal Election Commission (the Commission/FEC) will hold a hearing at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 11, 2007, regarding hybrid communications. Hybrid communications are political party communications (e.g. television ads) that refer to one or more clearly identified Federal candidate(s) and also refer generically to other candidates without clearly identifying them. In the 2004 presidential election, the cost of some ads was attributed equally to the clearly identified Presidential candidate and the candidate’s party. The Commission is holding this hearing as part of its rulemaking on the attribution of costs of hybrid communications under the campaign finance law. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, along with comments on the notice can be found at http://www.fec.gov/law/law_rulemakings.shtml#hybrid

The FEC will meet at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 12, 2007. The FEC will consider an Advisory Opinion Request from Michael King, a former television executive and philanthropist, to establish a program to encourage professional musicians and other performers to volunteer their services to federal campaigns and political parties. Mr. King asks whether he may, individually or through a charitable foundation, make a charitable contribution to encourage or commemorate a volunteer musician or performer’s performance. Mr. King further asks if there are any restrictions regarding his ability to generate publicity for his activities or for the charities. The Advisory Opinion (AO) request, along with any comments received prior to the meeting, can be found under "Pending Advisory Opinion Requests" at http://saos.fec.gov/saos/searchao.

The Commission will also consider a draft Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would change FEC regulations to include in the list of permissible uses of campaign funds:

The meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m. in the 9th floor hearing room at the Commission’s offices at 999 E Street N.W. in Washington.

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is an independent regulatory agency that administers and enforces federal campaign finance laws. The FEC has jurisdiction over the financing of campaigns for the U.S. House, the U.S. Senate, the Presidency and the Vice Presidency. Established in 1975, the FEC is composed of six Commissioners who are nominated by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.